Sectional wall clip



Oct. 6, 1953 J, D, BEAMER ET AL 2,654,449

SECTIONAL WALL CLIP Filed June 3. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS 175%?! jeamer? Jain BZJa/Z BY 7 WW Moll/av! IIIA,

Oct. 6, 1953 J. D. BEAMER ETAL 2,654,449

SECTIONAL WALL CLIP Filed June 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Oct. 6, 1953 J. D. BEAMER ET AL 2,654,449

SECTIONAL WALL CLIP Filed June 3. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.6 v r7 57: j .5 eamer'.

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES rATsNT osri cs SECTIONAL WALL CLIP ware Application June 3, 1948, Serial No. 30,954

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to improvements for facilitating the assembly of a plurality of structural panels and, more specifically, the invention relates to panels of the type which include spaced facings or skins and a filler therebetween.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved panel which may be utilized as a component in a space enclosing structure or building and to provide an improved arrangement for securing such panels together: to provide an arrangement by which the panels can be secured one to the other where relatively aligned or disposed in angular relationship, and to provide an arrangement which will readily accommodate detachment and disassembly of the panels.

Panels of the foregoing type may be so employed as to form the wall for structures in which the space enclosed by the latter is either heated or cooled and, as a result, the corresponding disposed skins or faces of the panels are subjected to a temperature differing from that of the other correspondingly disposed skin and the temperature differential will thus cause a relatively different reaction between the inner and outer faces of the panels. This is particularly true when the panels are wall forming components in a structure defining a space which is refrigerated.

A further object of our invention, therefore, is to so secure the panels together as to accommodate expansion and contraction of correspondingly disposed skins relatively .to the other correspondingly disposed skins, and, in carrying out this feature of the invention, the innermost skins of the adjacent panels are secured together independently of the securing of the outer skins together. The panels are thus subject to a minimum distorting force incident to relatively difficult temperature reactions of the panel facings or skins.

'Still another object of our invention is the provision of a plurality of clip members that are adapted to clampingly hold the inner and outer facings or skins of the abutting panels by frictional engagement therewith.

Another object of our invention is to provide the abutting panels with an elongated strip which covers the juncture of the panels and is carried by portions of the clip members.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of abutting panels embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the wedge clip and abutting panels showing the structure within the circle marked 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form of the clip.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-3 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a clip and panel assembly wherein the panels abut at a angle.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of clips and abutting panels showing a modification to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line I 0-l ll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken by the line I l-I I of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the clip shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the clip shown in Figs. '7 and. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, we have shown a pair of abutting structural panels, generally designated by numerals 20 and 2|. Each of the panels 20 and 2| comprises inner faces or skins 22 and 23 and outer faces or skins 24 and 25, respectively, with a filler material 26 between the faces or skins of each panel and secured thereto by surface bonding.

The abutting skins 22 and 23 are provided with regulating slots 2! and 28, each of which is of an L-shaped configuration. The slot 2! comprises a leg portion 29 and a foot portion 30, the foot portion extending toward the abutting edge of the skin 22. The slot 28 similarly comprises a leg portion 3| and a foot portion 32, the foot portion 32 extending toward the abutting edges of the skins 22 and 23. The longitudinal axes of the leg portions 29 and 3| each converge toward the juncture of the skins 22 and 23 and cross the line of junction at the same angle. The innermost edge portions 33 and 34 of the leg portions 29 and'3l of the slots 21 and 28 are parallel to the respective longitudinal axes of the leg portions 29 and 3| and form a wedge. The edge portions 33 and 34 are connected by steps 35 and 36'to the innermost edges 31 and 38 of the foot portions 30 and 32 of the slots 21 and 28, respectively. These edges 31 and 38 form a smaller wedge than the edge portions 33 and 34 and serve to initially receive portions of a clip, generally designated by the numeral 39. The clip 39 so employed comprises a body portion 40, a pair of converging U-shaped flanges 4| extending inwardly of the body portion 30 and a pair of substantially L-shaped flanges 42 extending sidewardly of the lower part of body portion 40. The clip 39 is also provided with a pair of small lips 43 extending outwardly from the upper portion of the clip which facilitate placement of the clip in the registering slots 21 and 28. The clip 39 is employed to clampingly connect the abutting skins 22 and 23 by inserting the U-shaped flanges 4| within the foot portions 38 and 32 of the slots 21 and 2B thereafter moving the clip downwardly, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the channels formed by the inner surfaces of the flanges 4| engage the edge portions 33 and 34 of the registering slots 21 and 28 and clampingly hold the skins 22 and 23 together. The clip 39 may be retained in this position by the frictional engagement of the flanges 4| with the edge portions 33 and 34 of the slots 21 and 28. However, if it is found expedient to provide some means for securing clip 39 in this position, small nut and bolt assemblies 43' may be employed for this purpose, as more clearly shown in Figs. and 6. This may be readily accomplished by providing the body portion 48 of the clip 39 with a pair of holes 44 which align with holes 45 in the skins 22 and 23 when the clips have reached a predetermined clamping position. Thereafter the nut and bolt assemblies 43 may be positioned within the aligned holes 44 and 45 to hold the clips in this position.

As more clearly seen in Fig. 1, the plurality of clips 39 are employed to join the faces 22 and 23 and are so disposed to lie in vertical alignment. A cover plate 46 having inwardly extending edge portions 41 may be employed to cover the vertically aligned clips 38 as Well as the juncture of the abutting panels 29 and 2|. The plate 45 is secured to the panels by snapping the edge portions 41 thereof over the sidewardly extending L-shaped flanges 42 of the clips 39. Although we have described the clips 39, the slots 21 and 28, and the plate 46 as being associated with skins 22 and '23, it should be understood that identical clips, slots, and plates are em ployed for clampingly connecting the skins 24 and 25, as shown in Fig. 2. In this manner the panel 28 and 2| are connected at both the inner and outer surfaces.

In Figs. '7 and 8, we have shown a modification of our invention. 48 and 49 represent structural panels which are disposed at an angle of 90 to each other. The panel 48 comprises an outer skin 50, an inner skin 5|, an end skin 52, and

filler material 53 adhered therebetween. The panel 49 comprises an outer skin 54, an inner skin '55, an end skin 56, and filler material .51 adhered therebetween. As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the end skin '56 of the panel 49 engages the inner skin 5| of the panel 48 so that the end skin '52 of the panel 48 and the outer skin 54 of the panel 49 lie in the same plane. The abutting edge portions of the skins 52 and 54 are provided with the slots 21 and 28 which receive the clips 39, the slots and clips being identical and bearing identical numbers as those shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The cover plate 48' also may be employed with this structure. The inner skin 5| of the panel 48 and the inner skin 55 of the panel 49 are each provided with a plurality of slots 58 and 59, respectively, which are identical to the slots 21 and 28, as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, with the exception that the slots in skin 58 lie in a plane normal to the slots 59 in the skin 55. A plurality of clips 5|] cooperates with the registering slots 58 and 59 in the skins 5| and 55, respectively, to clampingly connect the panels 48 and 49. The clips 60, only one of which is shown in Fig. 8, comprise body portions 6|, inwardly extending converging U-shaped flanges 62, and sidewardly extending L-shaped flanges '63, and are disposed at predetermined distances along the juncture of the skins 5| and 52. As more clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the clips 60 are identical to the clips 39 with the exception that the clips 60 are bent along their central axis so that the body portions 6| of the clips '60 form 90 angles. A clip so constructed is adapted to form to the configuration of the juncture of the panels. A sulficient number of the clips 60 may be used to clampingly hold the panels 48 and 49 together. A cover plate 54, having its edge portions curved to form flanges 55, is so disposed to cover the clips 69 and the juncture of the skins 5| and 55 of the panels 48 and 49, respectively.

In Figs. 9, 10, and 11, we have shown another modification of our invention. 66 and 61 repre' sent structural panels disposed in a, longitudinal- 1y aligned abutting relationship. The panel 88 comprises an outer skin 68 and an inner skin 69, with filler material 1|] adhered therebetween. The panel 51 similarly comprises an outer skin 1%, and an inner skin 12 with filler material 13 adhered therebetween. The abutting edges of the respective outer skins 68 and 1| are provided with registering slots 14 and 15, respectively, which are identical to slots 21 and 28 in Fig. 3 in configuration and relative position, as previously described, with the exception that the edge portions of the skins in which the slots 14 and 15 are cut are recessed, as clearly shown at 16 in Figs. 10 and 11.

A plurality of clips 11, each of which comprises a body portion 18 and a pair of opposed converging inwardly extending U-shaped flanges 19, is so disposed relative to the slots 14 and 15 to clamping connect the skins 88 and H as well as the skins 59 and 12. The flanges 19 engage the edge portions of the slots 14 and 15 in the same manner. as the flanges 4| of the clip 39 engage the edge portions 33 and 34 of the slots 21 and 28, respectively, as viewed in Fig. 3.

The body portions 18 of the clips 11 when the clips 11 are in their clamping positions lie in the same planes as the unrecessed portions of the outerv skins B8 and 1| and inner skins 69 and 12. By disposing the clips, 11 in this manner, plates may be employed to cover the junctures of the inner skins 99 and 12 and the outer skins.

68 and 1| as Well as the clips 11. The clips 11 are disposed in an aligned relation and may be conveniently covered by the plate 89. The plate 80 may be secured to the panels by a suitable adhesive or by any conventional method.

The filler material 26 and 26' in Fig. 2,, 53' and 51 in Fig. 8, and 10 and 13 in Fig. 10 may be of any conventional composition. The following compositions have been found to be very satisfactory: nitrogen filled hard synthetic rubber sponge; reclaimed hard sponge rubber; cellular core of any construction, cellular cellulose acetate; fiber board; and balsa wood. The fillermaterial is bonded or adhered to the respective skins by a suitable adhesive or cement.

In Figs. 1., 2, 3, 4, 9,110, and 1.1, we have shown the structural panel disposed in longitudinal aligned abutting relationship. It should be noted that in these views there is no skin connection between the respective inner and outer skins. This construction is especially advantageous when the panels form the walls for structures in which the space enclosed by the latter is either heated or cooled. By having the inner skins connected separately of the outer skins, either may move a small amount relative to the other; the expansion or contraction of the skins being due to the temperature difierential between the inner and outer skins.

It may be readily seen that, in all forms of our invention, a plurality of structural panels may be clampingly connected to form as large a structure as desired. In this regard, it may also be seen that if it ever be expedient for the panels to be transported or moved through portals that are smaller than the assembled panels, they may be readily disassembled by merely removing the cover plates and clips.

We claim:

In combination, edgewise adjacent panel sections each having spaced sheet metal skin ele- 2 ments wherein edgewise adjacent skins are provided with oppositely disposed diverging slots, an integral clip member comprising a body portion,

opposed inwardly extending diverging U-shaped flanges having portions extending through said slots and clampingly engaging said skin elements to thereby hold said skin elements in the aforementioned edgewise adjacent relationship and opposed L-shaped flanges extending outwardly from said body portion, and a cover strip clampingly engaging said L-shaped flanges and being disposed over the juncture of said adjacent skins.

JOHN D. BEAMER. JOHN BIDAK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS plumber Name Date 1,226,419 Turner May 15, 1917 1,822,217 Hudson et al. Sept. 8, 1931 1,919,780 Fairbank July 25, 1933 2,117,397 Bonsall June 3, 1941 2,268,636 Becker Jan. 6, 1942 2,318,840 Del Camp Mar. 11, 1943 2,414,628 Battin Jan. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 820,521 France of 1937 

